Teaching Children Respect in a Disrespectful World

Teaching children respect is very important. As a childTeachers, parents, police etc are all in positions of
grows older they will form many opinions about thoseauthority and often times for a child it is not their place
around them and without proper teaching they will beto question those in authority.
disrespectful. Here are 7 things to consider when5. Being fair. You may be a parent who suffered from
teaching respect.inequality as a child and therefore are trying to
1. Parents shape behavior. Children first learn from theircompensate in some way with your own children. This
parents and will follow their parent's examples. Wecan quite easily lead to demanding and greedy children.
must all evaluate the respect we show othersYou cannot always be fair but you can try very hard
particularly when we consider that our children areto be just.
now watching us.6. 5th Commandment. "Honor your father and mother
2. Start early. Start teaching your children respect asthat your days may be long upon the land." In the
early as possible. The tone in yourvoice when youearlier commandments we are instructed to love the
speak to your children and when you speak to yourLord and our neighbors but for our parents we are told
spouse must always be monitored.to honor them. The Lord even makes a deal with us, in
3. How does your child treat others? Have yourexchange for this respect...we will have a long life.
children treat their siblings and other children with7. Respect and manners. You will be surprised at how
respect. Try not to allow name calling, yelling and hitting.much more respectful your children are if you also try
When your child does misbehave explain to them thatto teach your children good manners. Well mannered
this behavior is not acceptable and explain properchildren are respectful children.
behavior.Teaching children respect is so worth the effort. Think
4. Question authority? In the 1960's "Question Authority"of how you feel when you are around respectful
buttons were popular. Now some people who worechildren. For me they are a joy. Sometimes my children
those buttons may have a hard time teaching theirare part of this throng and I feel momentarily like I am
children to be respectful towards authority figures.enjoying success.